Turn indicators for ships



A. VREUGDENHIL 3,162,836

TURN INDICATORS FOR SHIPS Filed May 31, 1961 Dec. 22, 1964 FIG .3

INVENTOR ATTORN United States Patent ,861 2 Claims. (Cl. 340-73 The present invention relates to turn indicators for ships comprising a plurality of electrical lamps, which are arranged in the shape of an arrow.

It is well known that collisions between all kinds of vessels continue to occur, whereby the vessels are damaged, burned or sunk, often with heavy loss of life; sometimes or 50 men are burned or drowned in a single collision.

The old whistle signals, which date back from some 100 years ago often are not audible on account of the noise made by the motor and sometimes are misinterpreted. The sudden appearance of a regulation light often puts the observer before a problem, which he has to solve in a very short time. In that short moment he has to decide on the position wherein he finds himself, on what manoeuvre to take and to execute it.

The showing of a light signal leaves no problem to be solved. The solution is there and the observer at once understands in what direction the other ship is turning, whatever her whistle signal may have said to him. Automatically he acts accordingly, because any doubt as to the other mans manoeuvre is taken away.

This is the great psychological difference between the id signals and those coming from an electrically lighted arrow signal-installation. The former often places the observer before a riddle; the latter establishes certainty.

The invention is meant for a ships turn-indicator, mainly existing of electrical glowlamps, which are arranged in the shape of an arrow and with a point at each end, indicating opposite directions. A similar arrow is known to exist.

However the existing turn-indicators have the disadvantage that the direction, which should be indicated by these arrows, is not always visible with that clearness as is required, because, when observed from some distance, the image of the arrows becomes deformed on account of the fusion of the lights that are radiated by the electric bulbs, which ought to produce the shape of an arrow with its point clearly discernible. Further are the signals shown by the existing turn-indicators at best visible over an arc of the horizon of 180 degrees.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a turn-indicator for ships, which obviates the above-mentioned dual disadvantage and improves the signal-installation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a turn-indicator for ships, which places the electric bulbs so far apart that fusion cannot take place within a reasonable distance that ships want to get out of each others way. For sea-going ships the distance between the bulbs should not be less than centimeters, but preferably about one meter. For river craft and such vessels as are employed in confined waters, the distance between the bulbs may be less than 35 centimeters. The electric bulbs which form the arrows shaft, are to be fitted at a distance from the bulbs in the wings of the point, which is at least as great as the distance between the wing bulbs. Fusion of the lights in the wings with the lights in the shaft, makes the arrows point indiscernible at some distance. If, merely by example, the electric bulbs are placed 50 centimeters apart or 100 centimeters, then the arrows point will be just discernible from the shaft, when the observer would be 1700 meters or respectively 3400 me- 3,162,836 Patented Dec. 22, 1964 ters distant from the place, where the signal is given, which distances on the one side for river craft and on the other hand for sea-vessels may be suificient to get out of each others way, preventing collision.

The reason is that the angle of vision of the normal human eye has the magnitude of about 1 minute, the cotangent of which amounts to about 3438. Consequently, if the distance between the bulbs would be 1 foot, then the phenomenon of fusion would appear, when distant 3438 feet or about one half of a seamile. The latter distance between two vessels that approach each other at high speed, particularly, when the weather might be somewhat hazy, would be covered in a time often too short to contrive and execute the right manoeuvre. Therefore unmistakable clearness is of first importance with regard to the visibility of a turn-indicating signal.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a turn-indicator for ships, wherein the electric bulbs are fitted in and protected by transparent lamphouses of special glass and shape. The light of the electric bulbs must be visible all around the horizon. Further it is necessary that beams of light from outside sources, a sun of low altitude or from a lighthouse are so reflected by the glass of the lamphouses that it becomes impossible for an observer on board of another ship, to obtain an impression as if the bulbs were lighted. It occurs, during collision cases, that a man pretends to have heard only one blow of the other mans Whistle, when two blows have been sounded. The shape of the lamphouses (globes) makes the pretense impossible that a light signal would have been observed, when no signal has been displayed.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a turn-indicator for ships, which includes a lampunit consisting of a metal fitting-box, that is fastened to the underside of a beam or yard of any kind. The lamphouse of transparent material is fitted from underneath to the metal or plastic fitting-box by being pressed to it by a gland and gasket to make it airtight or by means of butterfly-nuts. Other ways to fit the glass cover to the fitting box are possible. cal shape with its vertical angle turned downward and its bottom is of spherical shape. Instead of the spherical part the lamphouse may be closed at the bottom by a flat plate, which is detachable by the loosening of screws. The inward inclination of the lamphouse surface is 10 degrees or more, whereby the above mentioned reflection is obtained. 7

The turned down position of the lamphouses in their position against the underside of a beam and its branches makesthe light visible all around the horizon and at the same time deflects inopportune beams of outside light to a spot, where they can do no harm.

An arrangement of bulbs in arrow-shape with two points, enables the arrow shaft to be lighted with the one point, directing one way or with the other point then directing the opposite Way. The electrical wiring is led from a control-box on the inside of the commanding bridge front. A handle fixed thereunto, when in the neutral position holds an arrow unlighted. Said handle turned to the right, makes the arrow pointing to the right and if turned to the left, makes the arrow pointing to the left, while the opposite wings remain obscure.

Two small arrows on the same panel of the control-box as tell-tale indicators show the ofiicer the result of his manipulation of the handle. More than one of the control-boxes may be fitted to the same inner front of the commanding bridge.

In accordance with the lighting power of the electric bulbs the full current-may be applied, whereby in full sunlight the signals are made visible all around the horizon. When the night is very dark the current may be The lamphouse has a conithereon to forrri the wings.

come apparentin the following detailed description, the

present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic elevation of a all around visible double-pointed arrow;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of a lamphouse of which the conical surface is turned downwards, the larnphouse part of an being rigidly fixed against the underside of a beam that forms part of the arrow shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of a ship with two doublepointed arrows.

Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1v represents a doublepointed turn-indicator having a frame 1, whereunto the fitting-boxes 2 are fastened. The electric bulbs 3 have their footing in the fitting boxes 2 and are covered by the transparent lamphouses 4. Here the angle be-. tween the wings and the shaft is about 35 degrees, while the distances between the lamps is '1 meter or 40" as is meant for a sea-going vessel. The first lamp in the arrow-shaft is fitted outside of the field between the arrow-wings. This arrangement admits a clear distinguishing of a turn-signal, as for the naked human eye a no confusion of the lights takes place, when at a distance of some two sea miles. power of the lights is still good at liberally 1 sea miles distance, as was established by tests. Small interrup- In hazy weather the penetrating tions of the view are inevitable'as in the case with cornmon mastlights by the presence of stays, etc., but the spreading of the lights and the dimension of the filaments in the electric bulbs annul this objection. The way of fastening of the lamphouses makes for. an all round visibility of the signals. j

FIG. 2 shows a lamp unit, the fitting box 2 of which is made of non-corrosive material. The electric bulb 3 is put in place. A globe 4, projecting downwardly, is made of transparent, elastic material, that can withstand any possible differences of temperature inand outside of the globe 4. The latter is airand watertightly pressed against the fitting box 2 by means of'a nut 6, which is screwedinside of a cylindrical hollow projection 5. The position of all lamp units is such that the spherical bottom is turned down, whereby all around visibility is obtained, the fitting box 2 being fastened against the bottom side of a girder or in a similar way against the branches Other ways for fitting the transparent globe 4 .to thefitting box 2 are possible. The inclination inward of the conical surface of the globe 4 inclination is, however, also suitable. The purpose 5 3, thereof is to reflect beams of light from outside sources, thus avoiding an observer to receive the false impression, that the electricbulbs were lighted, when indeed they werenot.

FIG. 3 shows two double pointed indicators on a ship, which indicators, for the purpose of acquiring all around visibility are placed athwartships on both sides of an upward protruding funnel. When a signal is shown, both signals are all around'visible or in any case one of them. No other objects being in the way to impede the all around visibility, this condition has been met.

While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in a limiting sense, the scope of the present invention being determined by the objectsand the claims.

What I claim is: V

'1. A turn indicator for a sea-going ship, comprising a plurality of electric lamps,

a support structure having a first portion in the form of an arrow head, 7

a second horizontal shaft portion and a third portion in the form of an opposite arrow head,

a plurality of individual lamp structures positioned along the said arrow head portions and the said shaft portion, said lamp structures being mounted vertically downwardly on said support structure to predominantly emit light outward and douniward,

at least one lamp structure mounted at the apex of 'each of said arrow-heads,

saidsupport structure being mounted on an upper structure, of said ship,

said electric lamp structures being spaced relative to each other by a distance of at least 50 centimeters up to 100 centimeters, in order to recognize said arrow at adistance of about 1700 meters at the said distance of said "electric lamps of at least 50 centimeters and to recognize said arrow at a distance of about 3400 meters at the'said distance of said electric lamps of at least 100 centimeters. V

2. The turn indicator, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said electric lamp structures has a lamp housing including a transparent portion, a v

said transparent portion of each of said lamp housing is of conicalshape having an angle of about 30, the apex of said cone pointing downwardly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS i I a .1 is 15 degrees to the vertical, A greater inward angle of NEIL C READ "Wary Examme;

BENNETT o. MILLER, ROBERT H. ROSE, Examiners. 

1. A TURN INDICATOR FOR A SEA-GOING SHIP, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ELECTRIC LAMPS, A SUPPORT STRUCTURE HAVING A FIRST PORTION IN THE FORM OF AN ARROW HEAD, A SECOND HORIZONTAL SHAFT PORTION AND A THIRD PORTION IN THE FORM OF AN OPPOSITE ARROW HEAD, A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL LAMP STRUCTURES POSITIONED ALONG THE SAID ARROW HEAD PORTIONS AND THE SAID SHAFT PORTION, SAID LAMP STRUCTURES BEING MOUNTED VERTICALLY DOWNWARDLY ON SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE TO PREDOMINANTLY EMIT LIGHT OUTWARD AND DOWNWARD, AT LEAST ONE LAMP STRUCTURE MOUNTED AT THE APEX OF EACH OF SAID ARROW HEADS, SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE BEING MOUNTED ON AN UPPER STRUCTURE OF SAID SHIP, SAID ELECTRIC LAMP STRUCTURES BEING SPACED RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER BY A DISTANCE OF AT LEAST 50 CENTIMETERS UP TO 100 CENTIMETERS, IN ORDER TO RECOGNIZE SAID ARROW AT A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 1700 METERS AT THE SAID DISTANCE OF SAID ELECTRIC LAMPS OF AT LEAST 50 CENTIMETERS AND TO RECOGNIZE SAID ARROW AT A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 3400 METERS AT THE SAID DISTANCE OF SAID ELECTRIC LAMPS OF AT LEAST 100 CENTIMETERS. 